Monthly Archives: June 2015

I’ve just been introduced to this site, Waiata Mai! It has songs for play, everyday situations, and there are 40 videos you can download so that you can play the songs offline.

Check it out. I’ll be posting the link permanently in the links section of this site. Singing is one way we can introduce te reo Maori to children. Our class has learned the seven stars of Matariki this way, and are also learning te maramataka through song.

Matariki is the Māori name for a group of stars. The science name is the Pleiades and instead of ‘group’ they call it a star cluster. It signalled the start of the Māori New Year for some tribes. Maori people followed a lunar calendar. That means that the months were organised around the moon. Marama is the name for moon. That is why the calendar is called Maramataka.

When is Matariki?

Matariki appeared just before dawn in late May or early June. Different tribes celebrated Matariki at different times. Some celebrated when it was first seen. Some celebrated at the first new moon or full moon after the Matariki was seen. We now celebrate Matariki as the new Maori year, when the first full moon is seen.

How to make a manu taratahi
Follow these instructions to make a triangular child’s kite:
Figure 1: Lay the feathered toetoe stalks on top of the unfeathered stalk as shown. Bind the stalks together with string.
Figure 2: Lace together dry raupō leaves in groups of six. Start at the wide end of the frame and tie the string to the middle stalk, then lace the leaves as shown. Tie off after the sixth leaf. Repeat this on the side stalks. Continue lacing groups of six until finished.
Figure 3: Balance the centre of the kite on a broom and trim the leaves. Attach the bridle.

Next term our kura is looking at the history of our area. We are learning about the people of the past and thinking about the ways names and places have changed over time. We will be using drama, dance, music and the arts in a whole school production to represent our learning.

We are gathering information to help teach children about the history while we learn how to perform for an audience.